Pete Davidson is seemingly having second thoughts on a big purchase he made with his former Saturday Night Live co-star Colin Jost. The duo bought a decommissioned Staten Island ferry boat back in 2022 and since then have not found a use for it.
Davidson and Jost, who both were born and raised on Staten Island, purchased the decommissioned ferry for $280,000 last year with plans to turn it into a comedy and entertainment venue.
The Ferry ride is free. All passengers are required to comply with applicable U.S. Coast Guard Security Regulations regardless of which level they board from. The Staten Island Ferry does not carry cars.
In 1817, the first mechanical-powered ferry ran between Staten Island and Manhattan -- the Nautilus, commanded by Captain John De Forest. In 1817, the cost to ride was 25 cents for an adult and 12 cents for children. In 1897, the fare was reduced to 5 cents, before being raised to 10 cents in 1972 and 25 cents in 1975.
Eliminating the ferry fare was seen as an action to standardize Staten Islanders' MetroCard fares with those of commuters in other boroughs. Despite the fact that the ferry fare had netted $6 million in annual revenue for the city, its abolition only cost the city about $1 million.